A Guy Who Glued Himself to the Couch Is Now a Walking, Talking, Lean Machine
Meet Aamir Manasawala: The 27‑Year‑Old Who Dropped 21 kg
When gyms went dark and most of us swapped office chairs for sofa cushions during the COVID‑19 roller‑coaster, many of us hit the “sit‑and‑quit” trap. But Aamir Manasawala decided to play a different game.
He’s now 69 kg—a dramatic shift from the 90 kg version he was before. “I’ve battled weight all my life,” Aamir says, standing tall at 1.74 m and looking proud of the transformation.
His secret? A mental‑toughness boot camp that turned his mindset into a super‑power.
- Workout routine: 2x a day – weight training + cardio.
- Eating plan: Healthy meals every day, no cheat days for 75 days.
- Result: 21 kg lost over 20 months.
Singapore’s Health Ministry Raises the Alarm
The latest National Population Health Survey shows a worrying rise in chronic diseases and unhealthy habits even before the pandemic hit.
- Only 76.4 % of Singaporeans met the recommended activity levels, a drop from 80.9 % in 2017.
- Obesity stands steady at 10.5 %, same as 2010 but higher than 8.6 % in 2013 and 2017.
- “We’re all a bit out of rhythm now,” noted Prof. Teo Yik Ying, the dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
He highlighted binge‑drinking and mental health as growing concerns, especially after the full pandemic impact hits, “22 months in, it’s a bigger issue.”
What It Means for You
Prof. Teo urges everyone—individuals, workplaces, and the government—to get proactive:
- Workplaces can help by offering health programmes.
- The government could launch a sodium‑diet strategy, pulling it out of the deep end—just like the sugar tackle.
- Remember: 9 out of 10 folks consume >2,000 mg of sodium daily.
Another Success Story: The Hairstylist Who Bounced Back
Meet Andy Toh, 49, a hairstylist who stopped squeezing into the gym when the pandemic shut down the metro. Instead, he swapped machines for resistance bands and an exercise corner at home.
Even after taking a breather post‑vaccination, Andy made fitness a daily commitment:
- “I tweaked my routine, but I never gave up on work‑out.”
His mantra: keep moving, adjust as you go—except for the usual ‘break fast and lunch’ routine, which became, humorously, his “stay hungry” rule!
Why He’s an Inspiration
Andy’s story reminds us that even when the world freezes, you can still find ways to keep your body—and your spirit—moving. After all, a brave heart and a steady hand make the most amazing knots in life.
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission is required for reproduction. (Weight loss, pandemic, exercise, fitness, COVID‑19, coronavirus)
